9 dental myths answered

It is often said that the eyes are windows into the soul, but the American Dental Association promotes a twist on that aphorism: “Your mouth is a window into the health of your body.”

Symptoms of many diseases can show up in the mouth, according to the ADA, which means that visits to the dentist are valuable for more than tooth health. But the ADA also estimates that half of Americans older than 30 have some form of gum disease and that nearly one-quarter of children younger than 5 have cavities.

Here are answers to some of those age-old dental questions, so you’ll know what’s myth and what’s reality.

If bristles fray, throw it away

A toothbrush with intact bristles is critical to efficient removal of plaque, which accumulates every 12 hours. Once the bristles fray, throw the brush away, advises Sangeeta Gajendra, clinical chief for Eastman Institute for Oral Health’s Community Dentistry Department at the University of Rochester.

Depending on the pressure you apply during brushing and on your choice of bristles, the average lifespan for a toothbrush is three months, Gajendra says. She recommends a soft or extra soft brush because the flexible bristles are better able to reach into spaces and because the softer bristles reduce wear on the teeth.

Go electric?

If you decide to go the electric brush route, Gajendra notes that studies have shown that electric brushes remove plaque more effectively and efficiently. There are many to choose from — you can even get one that sends a report to your smartphone.

Non-surgical facelift arrives in Brevard

The right technique

It really does matter how you brush. It’s easy to get lazy, but there’s good reason not to.

Brushing is “technique sensitive,” says Gajendra, who advises holding the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum and brushing in short, up-and-down strokes.

Be sure to brush all sides of your teeth: Brush across the chewing surfaces and turn the brush vertical to reach the inside surfaces. For those needing a refresher course, the ADA offers tips and videos at mouthhealthy.org.

Unfortunately, rushing the brush simply won’t get the job done, according to the ADA, which advises brushing for a full two minutes and twice a day. While you’re at it, brush your tongue to rid it of bacteria and help keep your breath fresh.

Store it right

Brushes keep your mouth clean, but they need to stay clean, too. Tossing your brush into a drawer with other brushes is a no-no. So is encapsulating it in an airtight container. Store it upright and away from other brushes to keep it free from contamination. The ADA says there is no proven benefit to toothbrush sanitizers, but if you choose to use one, select one that is FDA-approved.

Whitening toothpaste or not?

The ADA says that the mild abrasive in toothpaste aids in scrubbing the teeth of plaque, and the fluoride helps to prevent cavities. As for the pastes that boast of whitening teeth, the bleaching agent (a low amount of hydrogen peroxide) can over the long term whiten teeth slightly. Since you are going to brush your teeth anyway, why not whiten them at the same time?

Other whitening dos and don’ts

Some foodstuffs worth living for — coffee, colas, tea, tomatoes, berries, spices, wine and energy drinks — are known for staining teeth.

One solution is to avoid these foods, but that’s no fun. Other solutions involve using a straw and rinsing teeth with water. Whitening strips can help, although they are less effective than the stronger solutions available from a dentist.

Using the strips according to the instructions can eventually lighten the teeth a shade or two, but they also make the teeth more porous and therefore more sensitive. The sensitivity will wear off, but in the short term, watch out for hot and cold drinks that could make you unintentionally bleat in pain at a nice restaurant.

Ancient whitening?

A recent trend in tooth whitening is oil pulling, an ancient Ayurvedic practice from the Indian subcontinent that has been publicized by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow. It involves swishing a teaspoon of coconut oil around in your mouth for anywhere from 3 to 30 minutes. The benefit, according to proponents, is that the oil “pulls” the bacteria from the teeth and whitens them. Dr. Arlene Messer advocates oil pulling for overall dental health, calling it “curative and preventative.” Messer, of the holistic Contemporary Dentistry in Rochester, says that the “detoxifying” practice using the acidic oil reduces plaque and oral bacteria that contribute to cavities, gum disease and bad breath.

Gajendra, of URMC’s Eastman Institute, does not recommend the practice, saying that the few studies that have been conducted are small (under 30 people) and therefore inconclusive. She warns that those wishing to try oil pulling must be careful not to swallow the oil, which has led to cases of lipoid pneumonia and gastric distress.

Nutrition for Today: Belly fat diets: truth or hype?

Messer agrees that few studies have been conducted, but counters that “we have found that many things we recommend are not quantified by the ADA, but does that mean they are not effective? Oil pulling is just one part of the recommendations that we make. It’s safe and there is no downside — it’s a very simple protocol.”

Messer says she has read about cases of pneumonia but says they are rare and most likely stem from improper instructions. Based on anecdotal evidence from her practice, oil pulling works, Messer says.

If you decide to try it, select a pure coconut or sesame oil. A Harvard study of oils available in Boston found that some overseas products were tainted with mercury and lead. Also, spit the oil into the trash rather than the sink, where it could clog the drain.

Flossing: Permission to flout the floss?

According to recent dietary guidelines from the federal departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, evidence does not support the effectiveness of flossing to avoid cavities. However, there is evidence that careful flossing does promote healthy gums. Gajendra says that her anecdotal evidence supports the benefit of flossing; a toothbrush simply cannot remove particles from between the teeth.

Diet: An apple a day

Gajendra has her own twist on a well-known aphorism: “An apple a day keeps the dentist away.”

Fibrous foods like apples help cleanse teeth, she says. And there’s the standard advice for tooth health: no tobacco, limit alcohol and eat a balanced diet. Water also helps cleanse teeth, especially for those whose saliva production has been decreased by certain medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, pain killers, antidepressants or diuretics.